Board Members Jane Johnson and Karen White Demonstrate That the Future Changes When We Do!
October 21, 2026 | Sacaton Elementary School District #18
“The future changes when we do!” At Sacaton Elementary School District #18, those words are more than a district mantra. They represent a commitment to making decisions today that will create better opportunities for students tomorrow.
For two extraordinary Governing Board members, that commitment has defined years of dedicated service to the children, families, employees, and community of Sacaton.
Jane Johnson and Karen White are two pillars of strength, resilience, and leadership whose unwavering dedication has helped shape the past, strengthen the present, and transform the future of Sacaton Elementary School District #18.
Together, these two women have witnessed generations of students walk through our school doors. They have celebrated academic accomplishments, athletic victories, cultural celebrations, and countless student successes. They have also navigated difficult decisions, changing educational expectations, financial challenges, and the transitions of numerous superintendents, principals, teachers, and staff members.
Through it all, one thing has remained constant: their commitment to doing what is best for Sacaton students.
Decades of Leadership, Service, and Commitment
Both Jane Johnson and Karen White have served as President of the Sacaton Elementary School District Governing Board, providing leadership through different chapters of the District's history.
Karen White's service spans two distinct periods, beginning nearly 30 years ago. She first joined the Governing Board in January 1997 and was elected Board President in January 1998. She continued as President for five consecutive years, through December 2002, before concluding her first period of Board service in December 2003.
In April 2020, Ms. White returned to the Governing Board, bringing with her valuable institutional knowledge, experience, and a renewed commitment to Sacaton students. Since returning, she has served as Board President beginning in 2021, with the exception of 2024 and 2025, when she served as Board Clerk.
As of October 2026, Ms. White has accumulated more than 13 years of actual Governing Board service across nearly three decades, a remarkable commitment to public education.
Jane Johnson joined the Governing Board in 2017 and is now approaching a decade of dedicated service. During her tenure, she has held both the positions of Board President and Board Clerk, demonstrating her leadership abilities, commitment to responsible governance, and dedication to the educational needs of Sacaton students.
Together, these two women represent more than two decades of combined Board service.
Their combined experience provides something that cannot be purchased or easily replaced: institutional memory, community trust, and a deep understanding of where our District has been and where it needs to go.
Both members were instrumental in recommending the hiring of Superintendent Robert Lewandowski and have continued to support the strategic planning necessary to move the District forward.
Their leadership has helped establish a clear direction for the District, ensuring that decisions about educational programs, staffing, facilities, finances, student achievement, and community engagement are connected to a larger vision for student success.
They understand that meaningful change does not happen by accident. It requires courage, commitment, collaboration, and the willingness to make difficult decisions for the benefit of the entire educational community.
Leadership That Never Stops Learning
What makes the service of these two Board members even more extraordinary is their commitment to their own professional growth.
They understand that effective school governance requires more than experience. It demands continuous learning, a working knowledge of educational law and policy, fiscal responsibility, and an understanding of the changing challenges facing public schools.
In 1992, the Arizona School Boards Association established its Academy of Board Development to recognize school board members who demonstrate a commitment to professional development and effective governance.
Through this program, Board members earn continuing education units (CEUs) by participating in professional learning opportunities addressing school law, governance, policy development, finance, educational leadership, and other responsibilities of public school boards.
Both Johnson and White have distinguished themselves through this program.
Karen White — Master of Boardsmanship, June 2025
In June 2025, Ms. White earned the prestigious Master of Boardsmanship certification through ASBA.
This recognition requires a minimum of 84 continuing education hours, demonstrating a significant investment of personal time and effort in strengthening the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as an effective school board member.
Her achievement reflects a dedication not only to serving on the Board, but to continually improving her ability to lead.
Jane Johnson — Turquoise Star Award, June 2024
In June 2024, Ms. Johnson received the Turquoise Star Award, an advanced professional development recognition through ASBA.
The Turquoise Star requires an extraordinary 300 continuing education hours.
To put that accomplishment into perspective, 300 hours represents more than seven full 40-hour workweeks devoted to professional learning.
The Turquoise Star is part of ASBA's Superior Training Accomplishments and Recognition (STAR) program, which recognizes Board members who continue their professional development well beyond the foundational requirements of school board service.
The STAR recognition levels include Copper at 150 hours, Turquoise at 300 hours, Silver at 450 hours, and Gold at 600 hours.
Ms. Johnson's achievement is a testament to her commitment to becoming a more knowledgeable, informed, and effective advocate for Sacaton students.
And the recognition does not stop there!
This December, during the 2026 ASBA Annual Conference, the Sacaton Elementary School District #18 Governing Board is scheduled to receive the Total Board Boardsmanship Award.
This recognition celebrates the Board's collective commitment to professional development and effective school governance.
It is an important distinction because it demonstrates that professional learning is not simply an individual pursuit at Sacaton. It is a shared expectation and commitment among the District's leadership.
Our Board members do not simply expect students and employees to be lifelong learners. They model what lifelong learning looks like.
That is leadership by example.
Safety, Support, and Belonging: More Than Words
One of the most visible examples of their leadership has been their commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment.
The District's exterior fencing and automated entry project represents an important investment in campus security. By strengthening perimeter security and controlling access to school facilities, the District has taken meaningful steps toward protecting students, employees, and visitors.
For Johnson and White, these improvements are about more than fences, gates, and technology.
They are about ensuring that every child has a school where they can feel safe, supported, and a sense of belonging.
Their leadership reflects the District's commitment to building a positive school culture where students are encouraged to BE BRAVE! BE KIND! BE PRESENT!
And they do not simply advocate for those values from the Board Room.
You will find them attending athletic competitions, student assemblies, school celebrations, family nights, and community events. They are familiar faces throughout the District because they understand that leadership requires more than attending meetings.
It requires being present.
Their actions demonstrate one of the District's most important messages: “Must Be Present to Win!”
Advocating for Sacaton Students — From the Community to Washington, D.C.
When Johnson and White are not attending school activities or addressing District business, they are often participating in professional development, studying educational policy, or advocating for the resources Sacaton students deserve.
Their commitment extends beyond the boundaries of the school campus.
They recognize that decisions made at the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona State Capitol, and in Washington, D.C., can directly influence the educational opportunities available to our students.
As Governing Board members, they must understand and navigate tribal, state, and federal laws, policies, regulations, and funding requirements while remaining responsible stewards of public resources.
Their advocacy is especially important because Sacaton Elementary School District #18 serves students on federal trust land, creating unique challenges in securing funding for school facilities.
One of their most significant current efforts is advocating for a new school facility that will serve generations of Sacaton students.
Together, they have developed a resolution for consideration by the Gila River Indian Community Council outlining the District's facility needs and the importance of providing students with a modern, safe, and educationally appropriate learning environment.
They recognize that our students deserve facilities that support 21st-century learning, educational innovation, cultural identity, safety, wellness, and the opportunities that will prepare them for the future.
Their advocacy is driven by a simple belief:
The children of Sacaton deserve the same opportunities as children anywhere else.
And they are willing to do the work necessary to make that vision a reality.
Extraordinary Service Without Compensation
Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of their service is something many people may not realize.
These two women serve on the Governing Board without compensation.
Their time, energy, preparation, travel, and commitment to District business represent a tremendous personal investment.
Consider the hundreds of hours devoted to professional development alone, in addition to the time spent reviewing policies, attending meetings, participating in school activities, advocating for resources, and making difficult decisions.
They do not serve for a paycheck.
They serve because they care.
They serve because they believe in public education.
Most importantly, they serve because they believe in the children and future of the Gila River Indian Community.
There is an old saying that people sometimes do not fully appreciate what they have until it is gone.
At Sacaton, we should never wait until that moment to recognize the extraordinary leadership and service of individuals who have given so much of themselves to our schools.
GREAT SCOTT! October 26 and a Journey “Into the Future!”
There is something especially fitting about recognizing these two leaders during this particular week.
In the iconic movie Back to the Future, October 26, 1985, is the date Marty McFly's unforgettable time-travel adventure begins.
This coming Monday, October 26, 2026, marks the 41st anniversary of that fictional journey.
And while Marty McFly and Doc Brown needed a DeLorean DMC-12, a flux capacitor, 1.21 gigawatts of power, and a speed of 88 miles per hour to travel through time, Sacaton Elementary School District #18 has its own formula for changing the future.
Our District's “Into the Future – The Future Changes When We Do!” initiative challenges students, employees, families, and community members to recognize that the future is shaped by the choices and actions we take today.
The District's 88 MPH Framework emphasizes eight essential qualities and eight actions that help move us toward success.
Jane Johnson and Karen White model those expectations through their leadership, responsibility, integrity, courage, perseverance, resilience, and commitment to others.
They understand that reaching 88 MPH requires more than good intentions.
It requires action.
It requires accountability.
It requires people willing to challenge the status quo, make difficult decisions, and keep moving forward even when the road becomes challenging.
And while these two Board members may not have a DeLorean, they certainly have access to a fleet of yellow school buses!
Their mission is not to travel back in time. Their mission is to make sure every Sacaton student has a better future.
They help generate the equivalent of our District's 1.21 gigawatts — the collective energy of leadership, encouragement, commitment, community partnerships, and hard work that powers meaningful change.
They recognize that we cannot simply wish our way into a better future.
We must create it.
The Decisions We Make Today Change Tomorrow
One of the most important lessons from Back to the Future is that what happens today can change what happens tomorrow.
That lesson is especially relevant to public education.
The decisions made by school leaders today can influence the lives of children for decades.
A decision to improve campus safety today may prevent a tragedy tomorrow.
A decision to strengthen instruction today may open the door to a student's future academic success.
A decision to invest in educational facilities today may provide opportunities for generations of children who have not yet entered kindergarten.
A decision to advocate for adequate funding today may change what is possible for our entire community tomorrow.
Johnson and White understand these responsibilities.
They know that leadership is not always easy, that difficult decisions are sometimes necessary, and that serving the needs of the whole community requires courage and conviction.
Their willingness to lead through challenges, support innovation, and remain focused on student needs demonstrates what it means to be “Up to Speed” in the Sacaton 88 MPH Framework.
They are not simply watching the future unfold.
They are helping create it.
Extraordinary People. Extraordinary Leadership. An Extraordinary Future.
As Superintendent, I have had the privilege of working alongside these two remarkable Governing Board members.
I have witnessed their dedication, their commitment to our students, and their willingness to advocate for what our schools need.
Their support of our District's strategic direction has been instrumental in our efforts to strengthen educational programs, improve student outcomes, enhance campus safety, and plan for the future of Sacaton Elementary School District #18.
Their individual professional accomplishments and the upcoming recognition of our entire Governing Board demonstrate a commitment to educational excellence that deserves the appreciation of our community.
Their leadership reminds us that the strength of a school district is not measured solely by its buildings, budgets, or programs.
It is also measured by the character, commitment, and vision of the people willing to serve.
Great Scott! We have extraordinary people serving our educational community!
Great Scott! We have extraordinary people leading our school district!
And because of their leadership, Sacaton Elementary School District #18 is better positioned to face the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
But they cannot do it alone.
Our students need the support of their families. Our teachers and staff need the partnership of our community. Our schools need advocates willing to invest their time, talents, resources, and energy into building something greater than any one individual could accomplish.
Jane Johnson and Karen White have helped get the engine running.
Now it is time for all of us to get on board.
We invite our students, families, employees, community leaders, and supporters to GET ON THE BUS and join us on this extraordinary journey!
Because the road to the future is not built by looking backward.
It is built by the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the commitments we honor today.
The destination? A brighter future for every Sacaton student.
The speed? 88 MPH!
The power? 1.21 gigawatts of commitment, courage, and community!
The drivers? Leaders like Jane Johnson and Karen White, who understand that the future changes when we do!
GREAT SCOTT! SACATON IS GOING INTO THE FUTURE!